November 30, 2006



Dear Loved Ones,

We Praise and Thank God for all the wonderful blessings He generously showered on us for the month of November, enjoying the Thanksgiving four holidays week-end, as we look forward to Christmas and His continuous outpouring of Love, Mercy and Generosity to share with others in the coming days!!!

The long break was partly spent catching up on reading books in the comfort of home and our Anatolia clubhouse (for different ambience). I tackled three interesting books: ‘The Thinker’s Way by Dr. John Chaffee, a biography of Johnny Depp (wasn’t he funny and gorgeous in his latest Pirates of the Caribbean!), and one by Barak Obama, the Democrat ‘shining star’ senator who is at par in the surveys with Hillary Clinton, for US President. I love reading reality books, not fictions. Last Saturday, Nov. 25, Ate Senie Ignacio- Davis with hubby Lloyd came for home visit and gave us a pot of beautiful poinsettia flowers which fitted as decor into our side table. With them were visitors from L.A. - Terry Balane (former NPC co-employee) with husband Pat and two other relatives. Time updating on our friends’ lives in L.A., reminiscing happy NPC memories. The visit was capped with our clubhouse tour!

Since it is the 1st Thanksgiving in our new home, we had typical American fare like Turkey with stuffing, salads, Pumpkin pie, Japanese sushi and maki/kani (which is always Sean’s favorite). In fact that day, because I had visitors, Sean went to anticipated Mass alone and saw Lik and Gene Schroeder. After Mass, they invited Sean for dinner at a Japanese resto, he gladly went with them, after giving me a phone call. Japanese food is simply irresistible and Sean is comfortably Americanized, Thank God too for kind and generous people! This time of the year in Pinas would mean decorating home for Christmas with all the lights and cleaning up our life-size Belen; actually the Holy Family figures stand all-year long, as centerpiece of our ‘home chapel’. Here in Anatolia, we bought a small Belen (which is truly the symbol for Christmas), and is the focus of our small home altar.

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Last week, I completed working on the set given when I started my project. To ensure a longer stay, I wrote a note to the CSD1 boss, hinting for more work until year-end. Yesterday, she gave me 3 times more data to work; thus, I’m so happy for my job security here in Mather! Busy life goes on with my teaching job, alternately handling ‘Management Science’ and ‘Production and Operations Management’ every month for the past four months. My students have increased as they enroll on my next class after taking one, and invite their friends to attend my class. Apparently, they perceive me as ‘good teacher’. Obviously, the trust and inspiration provided by Dr. Rudy De Lara, Dean Vicky, Fr. Ed, Fr. Art and other role models are paying off. Here, Dr. Connie and Dr. Ken Goldberg are according me similar support systems.

My three work assignments mean getting along well with 3 sets of people with various group schedule/activities, like birthday lunches and Christmas parties. (Our Willdan holiday party is tomorrow at the Holiday Inn). I have to stick to my exercise, diet and discipline to maintain balance and good health. I look around at people to remind myself about ‘what not to become’. In contrast to the abundance and wastage in America, I think of the poor children of Payatas, living in scarcity. Let’s spend and share more for these children this Christmas!

Let us continue to pray for our country and people. Peace and Joy to You. God Bless us all!!!

Much love and Best Regards!!!
SUSAN BG

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